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A right that lives only in writing is not a right at all. Without sincere enforcement, even the finest laws become empty promises. As the world marks Human Rights Day on December 10—commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948—it is worth asking: are we genuinely upholding these rights, or merely celebrating them in speeches and documents? The UDHR, with its 30 articles, protects basic freedoms such as the right to life, liberty, equality, speech and expression. These rights are also guaranteed by Nepal’s 2015 Constitution. However, guaranteeing rights and ensuring people enjoy them,in true and material sense, are two different things. Rights on Paper Human rights violations continue around the world. Children, women, and workers still face mistreatment. Even basic rights like clean air and safe public spaces are not fully protected. In Nepal, the Constitution promises dignity for all, but dignity requires respect, equality, and real opportunities. Developing countries like Nepal often struggle to implement fundamental rights, which increasingly appear dependent on economic capacity. As a result, their enforcement begins to resemble the fate of Directive Principles—lofty aspirations constrained by limited resources. When states, in practice, start placing fundamental rights and directive principles on the same footing solely because of economic inadequacy, it leads to undemocratic governance and systematic human rights violations. Every individual is entitled to enjoy these rights fully by virtue of being human. It is high time for the states to assume collective responsibility in combating discrimination and safeguarding human rights. After all, the mere enactment of laws carries little value without meaningful enforcement. Governance Matters Good governance is essential for protecting rights. Nepal’s Constitution emphasizes rule of law, transparency, inclusion, and welfare. Global thinkers—from Locke to Gandhi—have long linked justice and governance. Nepal’s own history, including Prithvi Narayan Shah’s Dibya Upadesh, stresses fairness and preventing injustice. The Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act of 2008 is a specific law aimed at promoting good governance by ensuring public administration accountable, transparent, inclusive, and participatory. This Act emphasizes values like the rule of law, corruption-free administration, financial discipline, and efficient public service. Section 17 mandates for the basis and reason to be mentioned in decision.  Other relevant statutory measures, such as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Act (1991), Prevention of Corruption Act (2002), the Public Procurement Act (2007), and the Right to Information Act (2007), further reinforce Nepal’s commitment to ensuring good governance. The Supreme Court in the case of Gopal Guragain on behalf of Communication Corner Pvt. Ltd. v. Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Singhdurbar, Kathmandu (N.K.P., 2067, Vol.1, Decision Number. 8299) held that transparent governance helps reduce corruption, delays, and red tape. The UN lists eight pillars of good governance, including accountability, participation, and equity. Without these, rights cannot flourish. Poor Economy  Many fundamental rights remain unfulfilled because of weak economic conditions. Pollution violates environmental rights. Unemployment pushes thousands of youths abroad for survival. Social inequality, political favoritism, and digital gaps deepen discrimination. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar famously argued that political democracy cannot survive without economic democracy. Rights become empty promises when the state lacks the resources to enforce them. Perhaps the world needs a new global commitment to support poorer nations in fulfilling human rights obligations. Way forward  Education should promote peace, equality, justice, and respect. Legal knowledge alone is not enough; people must learn empathy, fairness, and non-violence. Human rights should not depend on a country’s wealth. Nor should they remain limited to paper or be treated merely as a topic for university curricula. Instead, they must be taken seriously as a matter that demands genuine, practical implementation.  It is time for nations to work together to uphold human rights in practice—not just in speeches and documents. Laws have value only when they are implemented, and every person deserves to enjoy their rights fully, simply by being human. “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity,” rightly said Nelson Mandela. It’s high time we acknowledged his words and implemented our human rights-friendly laws in true and material sense.   Authors are faculty members in Law at Manmohan Technical University (MTU), Biratnagar, Nepal